Work on the £40million investment in the Kilmalid bottling plant will start in the coming weeks.

Chivas Brothers confirmed this week that, after extensive consultation which involved close engagement with employees, all operations will take place at the Dumbarton site from 2019.

This will involve the development of a new state-of-the-art facility here and the removal of the Paisley site over almost three years.

Plans include a bottling hall and office set for completion by the end of 2019, which will be purpose-built, providing a “more integrated and engaging environment” for all Chivas Brothers workers.

No additional posts have been announced, but the move will help secure the 600 jobs already at the Dumbarton site and boost the local economy.

A Chivas spokeswoman confirmed all permanent employees currently in Paisley will be given the chance to transfer to Kilmalid. She also said any worker who wishes to have an individual consultation meeting will be given one.

The company advised it would establish working groups to meet concerns over travel and transport and flexible working.

She said: “We want to deliver this important project by the end of 2019. It will be a major driver of the entire Chivas Brothers business and we are confident it will lay the foundation for future success.

“As previously stated, there will be jobs available for all permanent employees currently based at Paisley.

“The project will see the transfer of operations and activities from Paisley to Kilmalid commencing in 2018, with everyone based on the Paisley site moving to Kilmalid by the end of 2019.

“The investment is a sign of our confidence in the future of Scotch whisky and in our business. It also confirms our commitment to operating in Scotland and to building a strong future in Dumbarton where we have an 80-year history.

“The initial phase of implementation will begin in the coming weeks.”

When the plans were announced late last year, chief executive of Dunbartonshire Chamber of Commerce Damon Scott welcomed the move.

He said: “Chivas are an important and long-standing company and employer in Dunbartonshire and an increase in investment and jobs at Kilmalid is a fantastic statement of intent of Chivas’s long term commitment to the area.

“The creation of another world class production facility continues to set Dunbartonshire out as an attractive business location following the £22m development of the Aggreko plant nearby. This £40m investment will be a huge boost for the local economy creating and securing jobs well into the future.”

Laurent Lacassagne, chairman and chief executive at Chivas Brothers, added: “These proposed changes to our operations and our £40m investment are a clear sign of our commitment to Scotland and of our belief that the industry has a strong future.

“Over the next three years, everyone based on the Paisley site will start to move over to the Kilmalid site.

“We know this is a big change, which is why we are announcing our proposal three years in advance.”